At least thirty children have been kidnapped by suspected bandits in Kasai village, Batsari Local Government Area, Katsina State.
Batsari, also known as a Security Frontline Local Government Area, has recently seen an increase in bandits and criminal activity.
The event happened in the early hours of Monday and has yet to get an official response from government officials or security services. Details are limited, with no official confirmation or remark on the subject.
However, according to a resident who talked with Channels Television, the kidnapping occurred while the youngsters went beyond Kasai village to fetch firewood for cooking.
“Yes, the attack occurred yesterday, Monday, in the morning hours. It all began when the children numbering up to thirty went behind the Kasai village to secure firewood which their parents would use to cook food for them.
“Unfortunately, some suspected bandits intercepted them and took them to an unknown destination. We do hope and pray that peace and security will be restored in our state”, he said.
Meanwhile, a few days back, the Nigerian Army announced that its troops had executed Maikusa, a notorious terrorist leader who is believed to be the second-in-command of the terrorist cell in Katsina state, which is led by the infamous terrorist known as Modi Modi.
Maj Gen Onyema Nwachukwu, Director of Army Public Relations, confirmed in a statement on Tuesday that the army killed Maikusa and three other terrorists in a shootout on Monday during a counter-insurgency operation in Katsina State’s Kurfi and Safana Local Government Areas.
According to Nwachukwu, the violent operation successfully cleared terrorist sanctuaries in the districts.
“During the operation, troops encountered vehement resistance from the violent extremists, but gallantly overpowered the terrorists with superior firepower neutralizing some while others fled in disarray.
“After the firefight, the troops recovered two AK-47 rifles, three magazines, 65 rounds of 7.62 mm Special ammunition, a locally fabricated gun and camouflage uniform.
“In continuation of the clearance operations, troops also destroyed terrorists’ camps in Wurma, Shaiskawa, Yauni, and Dogon Marke villages in Kurfi Local Government Area, as well as Ummadau and Zakka villages in Safana Local Government Area.
“The troops have continued to maintain an aggressive posture in the general area to clear remnants of the terrorist cell to ensure safety and security in the region,” the army spokesperson said.
Bandits
The federal government on Monday said the Kaduna-based Islamic cleric Ahmad Gumi, has been invited for questioning over his comments on the activities of bandits in the country.
The minister of information and orientation Mohammed Idris, made it known while addressing journalists at the State House, Abuja. Idris said Gumi is not above the law, noting that the government has deemed it necessary to invite him for questioning.
Over the past few years, Gumi has gained prominence for his comments on the activities of bandits.
The popular cleric has been pictured with some bandits on many occasions. Recently, Gumi said terrorism in the country is not financed by Nigerians but by the terrorists who kidnap people for ransom.
At least 55 persons are said to have been kidnapped by a terrorists gang while escorting a bride along Damari town in Sabuwa Local Government Area of Katsina State.
Although security agencies are yet to confirm the incident officially, a resident however, told our correspondent in a telephone call that the incident occurred on Thursday at about 8:00 pm.
He noted that three security volunteers however lost their lives in effort to rescue the victims.
“Before the hoodlums attack the victims on a canter vehicle, the victims were initially over 70 mostly friends to the bride in which several others escaped”, he added.
Sabuwa, apart from being an agrarian area, also remains one of the security front line LGAs grappling with the activities of bandits and their collaborators mostly informants to bandits.